Metal Luminaries from Megadeth, Metallica, and More Share Their Favorite Thrash Records

Writing a top 10 list vacillates between easy and hard faster than the questions in a typical Trivia Crack game. Sometimes, the lists flow right out and you nail it. Others, though, you stew on and cross off items on the list, add them back, and cross them off again as the little voice in the back of your head reminds you constantly about every argument you can think of as to why the list is wrong. This week's cover story, The Ten Best Thrash Metal Records of All-Time, explores a storied genre and posits what list would be complete without the input of a few veterans of the scene.

Phil Rind speaks: Metallica and Slayer are on a different level than everyone else. Slayer gets the top nod due to Reign's sheer pummeling aggression. Metallica are the better band, but Slayer makes me want to punch people in the face.

The Megadeth and Exodus records were big early influences when we started Sacred Reich (in addition to the main two, see above). Corrosion of Conformity and D.R.I. were big influences early on, too, especially lyrically.

The Sepultura records are just brutal and have an intensity that is Slayeresque. Vulgar is a heavy record for something more "recent."

Voivod, Death Angel, Destruction, SOD, and Venom were early favorites.

We toured with Forbidden very early on and I saw firsthand what a great band the were.

Danko Jones speaks: This list is one-quarter Canadian. Yes, I’m Canadian, but Canada had a lot of great metal. With the exception of S.O.D. and Suicidal Tendencies, I kept it to strictly heavy metal bands.

Also: 1) Dave Carlo (Razor) is an overlooked metal riff maestro 2) I would’ve included Age of Quarrel by Cro-Mags, but it’s a crossover album 3) Maybe switch Reign in Blood with Master of Puppets? Nah, leave ’em like that. No, switch ’em. No, leave ’em. 4) I should’ve included Vio-lence.

Flotsam & Jetsam

Michael Gilbert, Flotsam & Jetsam

1. Metallica - Kill 'Em All: A defining moment for me the first time I heard this on cassette tape. I remember it well. Sitting on a milk crate behind 7-Eleven drinking a Mountain Dew 32-ounce Big Gulp with a few of my buddies listening to a boombox. When "Hit the Lights" started and the fast guitar starts after the fade-in, it unleashed demons for me and changed how I listened to music. I found the Holy Grail that day.

2. Megadeth - Killing Is My Business . . . And Business Is Good: This album is the very definition of speed metal. Not the greatest production, but tons and tons of vibe and emotion.

3. SOD - Stormtroopers of Death: For me, this was kind of the crossover where chunk meets punk. Two very fast and very angry types of music coming together for the first time, creating new dimensions in heavy music.

4. Anthrax - Spreading the Disease: From a guitar player's point of view, Scott Ian's precise rhythms and catchy riffs gave speed metal a new kind of groove. I very much think that Scott is the founder of that type of groove. Thirty years later, that opening track, "A.I.R.," still stands monumental.

5. Metal Church - Metal Church - I will confess to this, as this record was probably the biggest influence on me while I wrote some of the music on Doomsday for the Deceiver. Great guitar playing. Killer dark vibe.

1. Metallica - Master of Puppets: This record raised the bar during the early days of my own career, as far as production and really full, big-sounding songs. I lived in L.A. when it came out and heard it constantly on KNAC, so it was easy to become a fan of this album just driving around in my car with the radio on. They also landed the Ozzy tour on that record, which gave me hope that Megadeth would be able to have those opportunities, too, which we did with Alice Cooper on his 1987 “Constrictor” tour during our Peace Sells tour.

2. Motorhead - Ace of Spades: The original thrash record, in my opinion. They were the predecessors to all things speed, reckless, and fun.

3. Nuclear Assault - Handle With Care: Such a great band with killer intent. Loved by the thrash community but somewhat overlooked by the mainstream. I loved the vocals and lyrics with this band . . . and brutally heavy.

4. Exodus - Bonded by Blood: This band never apologized for just being a full-throttle thrash band, almost to the point of being funny because they were so rowdy. They probably represent Bay Area thrash better than anyone, and for the longest period of time, too!

5. Crumbsuckers - Life of Dreams: They were the young, fun thrash band of New York who were cool and fun to hang out with. We had many good times, including a great unguarded moment of them appearing in the “Peace Sells . . .” video. This record set the ball in motion and they even did dates with us and Overkill in 1987. Really, a great group with fun energy.

6. Stormtroopers of Death- Speak English or Die: In my opinion, the epitome of thrash meets hardcore for the 1980s. We listened to this record daily on the pre-“Peace Sells” tour in 1986. The songs are great top to bottom, the guitar tones are killer, and it was funny, funny, funny! A perfect 10 of an album.

Marty Friedman

Takaaki Henmi

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